Chapter 299

Chapter 299: Ten Sects Market

Li Shuang felt amused, but not offended. Yan Fan had given her something he valued a lot. At least his intentions were good.

She asked, “Anything else?”

Yan Fan put his cool mask back on and said, “Nothing else. We’ll see each other on the ring.”

Li Shuang said, “Alright.”

She walked a few steps, then paused, turned, and asked, “One question. If you lose again on the ring, you won’t cry, right?”

Yan Fan looked at her, half laughing, and said, “Do you think I’m three years old? Besides, I won’t lose.”

“Good,” Li Shuang said with a small sigh.

[He’s too simple. If I crush him, I’ll feel a bit bad.] She weighed it in her head. [Either I hit him while feeling guilty, or I hit him with a clear conscience. Either way, he’s not escaping a beating.]

This time, Li Shuang turned and left for real.

Watching her back, Yan Fan said softly, “Li Shuang, among our peers, I see only you as my opponent. Don’t let me down.”

Li Shuang said nothing.

When her figure finally disappeared, Yan Fan looked satisfied. [That move had the bearing of a future leader. Even if she didn’t show it on her face, she must feel a bit more convinced of me.] In his mind, when he governed the Immortal Realm one day, Li Shuang would be his right hand.

At the Sword Sect quarters, the senior brothers and sisters from Emotionless Peak had already heard the news and were waiting.

Luo Ming Yue threw an arm around Li Shuang’s shoulders and said with a grin, “Little Shuang, Master just arrived and went to talk with the Supreme Elders about something. Master told us to wait here for you.”

Li Shuang smiled and said, “Senior brothers and sisters, long time no see.”

It really had been a while. In the cultivation world, a casual closed-door training could last years. As one’s cultivation deepens, a single seclusion of a hundred years is normal. Some cultivators come out of one retreat to find the world already changed.

“Long time no see,” everyone replied with smiles.

They had all improved during their time apart. Luo Ming Yue had completely stabilized her Divine Transformation Stage. A few months ago, Liu Jun Cheng felt a spark in his heart and broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage. Jiang Yi had advanced to the Late Golden Core Stage. Only Sui Jin, whose spiritual roots were poor, was now the lowest in cultivation among them, though he stayed calm and didn’t worry.

“Junior Sister, your current cultivation…” Luo Ming Yue looked at Li Shuang and let out a soft sound of surprise.

What realm was Li Shuang at now? She couldn’t sense it at all.

That could only mean one thing: Li Shuang’s cultivation was already far above hers.

Luo Ming Yue felt a bit dazed. Her advantage as First Senior Sister was going to vanish this fast?

“I had some chances,” Li Shuang said. “Not long ago I broke through to Peak Divine Transformation.”

Luo Ming Yue fell silent.

She looked at Li Shuang helplessly and said, “I thought I could at least keep my edge in cultivation for a while.”

“First Senior Sister, I—” Li Shuang began.

But Luo Ming Yue suddenly showed a strange smile and said, “Little Shuang, that Yan Fan from Cangyuan Sect they’ve been bragging about, his cultivation is only Late Divine Transformation Stage. With just that, they’ve praised him like there’s no one else under the sky. When he meets you…”

Whatever she pictured made her snicker.

Li Shuang couldn’t help but smile.

How much had the Cangyuan Sect bragged about Yan Fan? Master had told her about him the first moment. And when First Senior Sister learned Li Shuang’s level, her first thought was that Yan Fan would get knocked down a peg. It seemed the top sect of the Nanlan Continent had been very high-profile lately.

“Heh, forget that Yan Fan for now,” Luo Ming Yue said. “Master asked me to show you around, but you came out too late. There are only two days left before the competition starts. Two days isn’t enough to play to your heart’s content.”

“First Senior Sister, Junior Sister isn’t as fond of crowds as you,” Liu Jun Cheng said helplessly. “You didn’t see it, Junior Sister—First Senior Sister came seven days early. She’s been at the Ten Sects Market at the foot of the mountain every day, out early and back late, having the time of her life.”

Luo Ming Yue chuckled and said, “Ten sects gathered—how often does that happen? The wine brewed by Bright Light Sect disciples, the special traction talismans of the Thousand Mechanisms Sect, and the peerless looks of the Flowing Moon Sect disciples—aren’t all of those rare sights?”

She grabbed Li Shuang’s hand and said, “Junior Sister, listen to me. Especially those Flowing Moon Sect disciples—you must come see them with me.”

“Flowing Moon Sect?” Li Shuang asked in surprise. “I’ve never heard of that sect.”

Sui Jin flicked open his folding fan with a flourish and explained, “Besides the six great sects, the grand competition invites the strongest sect from each region. The Flowing Moon Sect is from the Dayong region. The strongest there used to be the Unfettered Sect. But in the last two years, Flowing Moon rose out of nowhere, beat the Unfettered Sect in the qualifiers, and won a slot.”

“So this is their first time in the grand competition.”

“Let’s go, let’s go. We can talk on the way,” Luo Ming Yue said, tugging Li Shuang toward the exit. “I’m telling you, those Flowing Moon disciples are stunning. You’ll want to see them again after one look.”

Liu Jun Cheng and the others weren’t interested in the Flowing Moon disciples. They just smiled bitterly and didn’t follow.

At the center of Cangyuan Sect’s peaks lay a wide valley. After the ten sects gathered, the valley became the trading ground. Disciples brought out their best treasures to swap, and everyone gained something. For this competition, the disciples on the official roster had their teleportation paid by Cangyuan Sect. Those not on the list could still come to watch if they paid their own way. The market was packed, drawing crowds of disciples.

“Come on, let’s sit at the tea house run by the Flowing Moon disciples,” Luo Ming Yue said, charging ahead with a clear goal.

Li Shuang didn’t refuse. She was curious. What kind of beauty could make First Senior Sister keep talking about it?

Logically, after they start cultivating, people shed impurities and most look decent. Even if someone doesn’t, there are plenty of techniques to change one’s looks. What kind of “peerless beauty” can’t be made with a spell?

These Flowing Moon disciples must have something special.

While Li Shuang was thinking, Luo Ming Yue pulled her into the tea house.

As soon as she stepped in, Li Shuang’s expression changed.

Malice.

Malice.

Malice.

All around her, waves of hostility pressed in from every side.